Mystery solved! Parcel sent to Indiana Jones at University of Chicago has a real-world explanation

The mysterious envelope that arrived in Chicago actually originated in Guam, not Egypt, and got waylaid in Hawaii on its way to Italy. (Lenny Gilmore/Redeye)

The mysterious Indiana Jones journal will go in a museum — just where the fictional archeologist would want it.

The University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute will unveil a highly detailed diary Thursday that the admissions office received in a manila envelope addressed to Henry Walton Jones Jr. — the birth name of fictional archeologist Indiana Jones.

“It has captivated and enthralled a lot of the campus,” Garret Brinker, the director of undergraduate outreach for the admissions office, told the Daily News.

The journal has ancient maps and notes on mysterious artifacts — notably the Ark of the Covenant. It even bears the signature of Abner Ravenwood, Jones’ fictional mentor and father of his love interest, Marion.

“It has Ravenwood’s writing, maps, fake currency that looks very close to real currency … there are photos of Marion Ravenwood and Indiana Jones. So it is full of mementos from Ravenwood’s life,” Brinker explained.

The peculiar journal perplexed the admissions office from when they discovered it Dec. 13. until Monday morning when an eBay seller in Guam, Paul Charfauros, confirmed that he created it.

Lenny Gilmore/Redeye

Some of the fabricated documents, currency and photos that arrived along with the journal of Abner Ravenwood, the fictional mentor of Indiana Jones.

“The power of the Internet is quite compelling to solve mysteries like this,” said Brinker.

Charfauros made the prop replica and mailed it to a customer in Italy, but it fell out of its original packaging in Honolulu. The journal was still, however, in a smaller envelope — with string wrapped around it and canceled stamps — that Charfauros included to enhance the aura.

Despite lacking actual U.S. postage, the postal service shipped the package to the admissions office, where the Oriental Institute was located during the Indiana Jones era.

“It’s been very exciting for the entire university. The history of Indiana Jones has a close connection to the University of Chicago,” Brinker said.